Muscle Car of the Week: ’68 Pontiac Firebird Coupe

Before Pontiac slapped a massive decal on the hood, the Firebird was one of the premiere muscle cars out there. The ’68 stands out as an exceptionally beautiful ride. MSN Auto rated it as one of the Top 10 Muscle Cars of All-Time.

In contrast to the sharp, straight lines of many competitor models the Firebird had rounded swooping lines. Yes, it was called “coke bottle” design because from a profile view it resembled the shape of the classic glass bottle, BUT the design shape was originally created for use in high-speed airplanes as a way of greatly reducing the sharp drag rise that occurs at transonic speeds.

There were several motor options available in ’68, the beefiest being a 400 cubic inch (6.6 liter) Pontiac Air Ram II V8 capable of churning out 325 hp during chassis dyno testing. The Air Ram add-on didn’t effect overall horsepower but it did make the motor peak at a higher RPM.

Produced right in the sweet spot of late 60’s muscle this is a classic restoration project worth putting your time into. With a deft touch there aren’t many rides better looking than this one.